Retirement Plans (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Description of published surveys of expected market returns considered	Published surveys of expected market returns, 10 and 20 year actual returns of various major indices
Description of historical investment returns considered	Company's historical 5-year, 10-year and 20-year investment returns
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, upper range (in hundredths)	6.00%
Annual rate of increase in the per-capita cost of covered medical benefits, lower range (in hundredths)			5.00%
Annual rate of increase in the per-capita cost of covered medical benefits, upper range (in hundredths)			8.00%
Change in projected benefit obligation (PBO) [Roll Forward]
Pension and other postretirement benefits	$ (918,701,000)		$ (816,588,000)
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets for Acquired Business as of acquisition date	106,900,000		438,800,000
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet [Abstract]
Earnings on the assets transfer from various Verizon plans	18,900,000
Components of net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]
Receivable of the Plan that was transferred related to the Transaction	51,600,000
Cash contribution to the Plan	18,600,000		13,100,000
Accumulated benefit obligation	1,673,400,000		1,372,600,000
Number of pension plans that were merged with the pension plan	12
Percentage of federal subsidy (in hundredths)			28.00%
Individual beneficiary's annual eligible prescription drug costs, lower range			250
Individual beneficiary's annual eligible prescription drug costs, upper range			5,000
401 (k) Savings Plan employer contributions	22,200,000		14,900,000		4,400,000
401 (k) Savings Plan employer contributions for certain former employees of the Acquired Business	15,900,000		10,600,000
Number of separate plans of the Acquired Business			3
Assumed rate of return (in hundredths)	7.75%
Capitalization of pension and OPEB expense related to engineering and plant construction	10,200,000		8,300,000		7,500,000
Range of full year estimated pension and other postretirement benefit expenses - lower	75,000,000
Range of full year estimated pension and other postretirement benefit expenses - upper	85,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used in Calculations [Abstract]
Discount rate - used at year end to value obligation, lower range (in hundredths)	4.50%
Discount rate - used at year end to value obligation, upper range (in hundredths)	4.75%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, upper range (in hundredths)	6.00%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, lower range (in hundredths)	3.00%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets (in hundredths)	7.75%
Contribution of real property with a fair value	58,100,000
Number of administrative properties contributed to the plan	4
Term of property leases (in years)	15Y
Aggregate annual rent	5,800,000
Obligation recorded	58,100,000
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax [Abstract]
Net actuarial gain (loss) recognized during year	(263,732,000)		9,123,000		(35,759,000)
Net actuarial loss (gain) occurring during year	9,391,000		23,955,000		24,179,000
Other liabilities	57,500,000
Other current liabilities	600,000
Effect on total of service and interest cost components, 1 percentage point increase	1,000,000
Effect on total of service and interest cost components, 1 percentage point decrease	(900,000)
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation, 1 percentage point increase	17,600,000
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation, 1 percentage point decrease	(15,800,000)
Total cash and non-cash contributions to Pension Plan	76,700,000
Pension Plan [Member]
Change in projected benefit obligation (PBO) [Roll Forward]
PBO at beginning of year	1,644,657,000		890,576,000
PBO for plans of Acquired Business	0		581,256,000
Actuarial adjustment to PBO for plans of Acquired Business	0	[1]	64,098,000	[1]
Service cost	38,879,000		21,169,000		6,098,000
Interest cost	84,228,000		67,735,000		52,127,000
Actuarial loss/(gain)	160,390,000		87,024,000
Benefits paid	(128,841,000)		(67,270,000)
Plan change	0		0
Special termination benefits	0		69,000
PBO at end of year	1,799,313,000		1,644,657,000		890,576,000
Pension and other postretirement benefits	(541,323,000)		(354,383,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	575,163,000		349,264,000
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	1,290,274,000		608,625,000
Fair value of plan assets for Acquired Business as of acquisition date	0		581,256,000
Actual return on plan assets	19,883,000		154,554,000
Employer contributions	76,674,000		13,109,000
Benefits paid	(128,841,000)		(67,270,000)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	1,257,990,000		1,290,274,000		608,625,000
Funded status	(541,323,000)		(354,383,000)
Components of net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]
Service cost	38,879,000		21,169,000		6,098,000
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	84,228,000		67,735,000		52,127,000
Expected return on plan assets	(100,558,000)		(69,831,000)		(44,712,000)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	(199,000)		(199,000)		(255,000)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit) expected in 2012	(199,000)
Amortization of unrecognized loss	15,364,000		27,393,000		27,144,000
Amortization of unrecognized loss expected in 2012	31,147,000
Net periodic benefit cost	37,714,000		46,267,000		40,402,000
Special termination charge	0		69,000		1,567,000
Total periodic benefit cost	37,714,000		46,336,000		41,969,000
Assumed rate of return (in hundredths)	8.00%		8.00%		8.00%
Asset category [Abstract]
Equity securities (in hundredths)	45.00%		50.00%
Debt securities (in hundredths)	40.00%		39.00%
Alternative investments (in hundredths)	14.00%		10.00%
Cash and other (in hundredths)	1.00%		1.00%
Total (in hundredths)	100.00%		100.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Benefit Payments [Abstract]
2012	103,863,000
2013	110,058,000
2014	116,938,000
2015	125,617,000
2016	129,057,000
2017 - 2021	687,871,000
Total	1,273,404,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used in Calculations [Abstract]
Discount rate - used at year end to value obligation (in hundredths)	4.50%		5.25%		5.75%
Discount rate - used to compute annual cost (in hundredths)	5.25%		5.75%		6.50%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets (in hundredths)	8.00%		8.00%		8.00%
Rate of increase in compensation levels (in hundredths)	2.50%		3.00%		3.00%
Defined Benefit Plan
Net actuarial loss	574,998,000		349,298,000
Prior service cost/(credit)	165,000		(34,000)
Total	575,163,000		349,264,000
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax [Abstract]
Accumulated other comprehensive income at beginning of year	349,264,000		374,157,000
Net actuarial gain (loss) recognized during year	(15,364,000)		(27,393,000)
Prior service (cost)/credit recognized during year	199,000		199,000
Net actuarial loss (gain) occurring during year	241,064,000		2,301,000
Prior service cost (credit) occurring during year	0		0
Net amount recognized in comprehensive income for the year	225,899,000		(24,893,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income at end of year	575,163,000		349,264,000		374,157,000
OPEB [Member]
Change in projected benefit obligation (PBO) [Roll Forward]
PBO at beginning of year	478,576,000		189,290,000
PBO for plans of Acquired Business	0		285,451,000
Revision to the benefit obligation for Acquired Business	(125,445,000)		0
Service cost	8,958,000		7,956,000		361,000
Interest cost	17,722,000		17,883,000		11,017,000
Plan participants' contributions	4,389,000		3,976,000
Actuarial loss/(gain)	22,564,000		16,670,000
Benefits paid	(15,168,000)		(14,719,000)
Plan change	0		(27,931,000)
PBO at end of year	391,596,000		478,576,000		189,290,000
Current liabilities	(9,117,000)		(10,131,000)
Pension and other postretirement benefits	(377,378,000)		(462,205,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	41,811,000		13,369,000
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	6,240,000		8,028,000
Actual return on plan assets	219,000		600,000
Plan participant's contributions	4,389,000		3,976,000
Employer contributions	9,421,000		8,355,000
Benefits paid	(15,168,000)		(14,719,000)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	5,101,000		6,240,000		8,028,000
Funded status	(386,495,000)		(472,336,000)
Components of net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]
Service cost	8,958,000		7,956,000		361,000
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	17,722,000		17,883,000		11,017,000
Expected return on plan assets	(324,000)		(436,000)		(439,000)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	(10,198,000)		(8,157,000)		(7,751,000)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit) expected in 2012	(10,010,000)
Amortization of unrecognized loss	4,424,000		4,917,000		5,041,000
Amortization of unrecognized loss expected in 2012	7,642,000
Net periodic benefit cost	20,582,000		22,163,000		8,229,000
Expected cash contributions	60,000,000
Assumed rate of return (in hundredths)			6.00%		6.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Benefit Payments [Abstract]
2012	12,839,000
2013	14,129,000
2014	15,418,000
2015	16,995,000
2016	18,675,000
2017 - 2021	116,614,000
Total	194,670,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used in Calculations [Abstract]
Discount rate - used at year end to value obligation (in hundredths)			5.25%		5.75%
Discount rate - used to compute annual cost (in hundredths)	5.25%		5.75%		6.50%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets (in hundredths)			6.00%		6.00%
Defined Benefit Plan
Net actuarial loss	82,841,000		64,598,000
Prior service cost/(credit)	(41,030,000)		(51,229,000)
Total	41,811,000		13,369,000
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax [Abstract]
Accumulated other comprehensive income at beginning of year	13,369,000		21,554,000
Net actuarial gain (loss) recognized during year	(4,424,000)		(4,919,000)
Prior service (cost)/credit recognized during year	10,198,000		8,158,000
Net actuarial loss (gain) occurring during year	22,668,000		16,506,000
Prior service cost (credit) occurring during year	0		(27,930,000)
Net amount recognized in comprehensive income for the year	28,442,000		(8,185,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income at end of year	41,811,000		13,369,000		21,554,000
OPEB, Gross Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Benefit Payments [Abstract]
2012	13,211,000
2013	14,575,000
2014	15,955,000
2015	17,630,000
2016	19,412,000
2017 - 2021	122,665,000
Total	203,448,000
Medicare Part D Subsidy [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Benefit Payments [Abstract]
2012	372,000
2013	446,000
2014	537,000
2015	635,000
2016	737,000
2017 - 2021	6,051,000
Total	$ 8,778,000
Equity Securities [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, lower range (in hundredths)	35.00%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, upper range (in hundredths)	55.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used in Calculations [Abstract]
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, upper range (in hundredths)	55.00%
Fixed Income [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, lower range (in hundredths)	35.00%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, upper range (in hundredths)	55.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used in Calculations [Abstract]
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, upper range (in hundredths)	55.00%
Alternative Investments [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, lower range (in hundredths)	5.00%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, upper range (in hundredths)	15.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used in Calculations [Abstract]
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, upper range (in hundredths)	15.00%

[1] Represents the difference between the contracted discount rate agreed upon in the Merger Agreement and the discount rate used by Frontier to value the liability on July 1, 2010 for financial reporting purposes.